Jason is CEO of Holts Group of Companies being a family of businesses and social enterprises in the education, immersive technology, and jewellery industries.

Having been a solicitor in Eversheds, a city law firm, Jason jumped ship to join the family jewellery business where he founded the British Academy of Jewellery (Holts Academy) in response to a skills crisis in his own business as well as the sector. As both an employer of apprentices and provider of training, it was this experience which made the indelible mark of the importance of employer led education in growing skills and productivity.

Through Jason’s government review of 2012, “Making Apprenticeships More Accessible to SME’s”, the genesis of the apprenticeship employer led reforms was borne.

Since publishing his review, Jason has gone on to become a trusted advisor to successive ministers with responsibility for apprenticeships and skills. Having chaired a number of Government Boards to support the Government during its apprenticeship reforms, including the Apprenticeship Stakeholder Board and Ambassador Network, Jason subsequently co-founded the Association of Apprentices, an umbrella organisation to empower the 1m apprentices in the UK.

Jason holds the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion and is a Liveryman of the City of London and The Goldsmiths Company. In January 2015, Jason was awarded a CBE for his services to the jewellery sector and apprenticeships.